ONE of the most exceptional pianists of his generation will be playing in West Dorset next month.

Martin Cousin is performing at Bridport Arts Centre on February 6 and The Hub, Lyme Regis, on February 7.

The hands that you see playing Rachmaninoff’s breathtaking Piano Concerto No 3 in the Oscar-winning film Shine, belong to Martin.

Now, thanks to the arts charity Concerts in the West, audiences in Dorset will have the chance to see those hands live in action.

Since graduating from the Royal College of Music, Cousin has been performing regularly at major venues in London including the Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall, Barbican and Royal Festival Halls, as well as around the globe with tours in New Zealand, Italy and the USA.

Cousin’s talents have been recognised with a number of prestigious awards, including first prize at the 2005 Ettore Pozzoli International Piano Competition in Italy and Gold Medal at the 2003 Royal Overseas League Music Competition in London.

Catherine Hodgson, Concerts in the West founder and director, said: “The fact that Martin’s debut CD of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata No 1 and Morceaux de Salon in 2006 was chosen by the Daily Telegraph as Classical CD of the week should give an idea of the superb standard of his playing.

“So to have him launch Concerts in the West’s 2015 series is a real thrill and I would encourage anyone wanting to come to book tickets early.”

Catherine is particularly pleased that one of the pieces Cousin has chosen to perform in February is one of Rachmaninoff’s Etudes-Tableaux, which was declared ‘a landmark recording’ when released in 2014 as well as receiving a five-star review in the Observer.

Highlights of Martin Cousin’s past three seasons include Rachman-inoff’s 2nd Concerto with the Philharmonica at Barbican Hall and Royal Festival Hall, Grieg’s Concerto at Symphony Hall, Mozart’s Con-certo K488 at the Royal Festival Hall and a solo recital at Wigmore Hall.

As well as his solo performances, Cousin’s chamber music work has taken him to Prague, Tokyo, Indonesia, Thailand, Zimbabwe and Barbados. He is also a founder member of the Aquinas Piano Trio, who played a series of enormously popular concerts for Concerts in the West in 2013. On Friday, February 6. Martin will be at the Bridport Arts Centre from 11am to noon. Contact the venue for tickets.

On Saturday, February 7, Martin will be at The Hub in Church Street next to St Michael’s Church in Lyme Regis.

Contact Serendip Fine Books in Broad Street, Lyme Regis, for tickets.